Please help me clear up this mess !!

[Flyingsouthwiththeswallows]

I am really struggling to know how to resolve this mess in the corner of my dining room.

Out of view but very, very, close to the LH corner are the french doors, so it is not possible to fit a corner cupboard. The plugs are 55cm high, so I haven’t been able to find a basket to hide the mess.

I had thought about putting a sideboard in front of the plugs to hide them but the gap from the LHS of the plug to the left hand skirting is only 2.5 cm.

That solution would require that the sideboard top overhangs by 9-10 cm at the back but cannot overhang at the side. It would also require a hole cut in the back of the sideboard.

I have no idea why builders fit plugs and telephone sockets in such awkward places but wonder if I am missing something.

What do other people do? Are there extension lead options I am missing?

Any help would be appreciated

Would a shelf work (checking for wires) or do you have sockets further along and then get an extension cable for the phone line.

I’d think you’d find a cabinet with only 2.5cm thickness of side? Or am I misunderstanding?
Then yes, take the back off or cut a hole.

Might need more pics to understand.

What’s your budget? What style do you like?

However we just paid for another socket in a much more sensible place (it was by the front door)

Are there other power sockets to the right in a better position?
If so you could move the router entirely by routing the internet cable straight down and along the skirting board (maybe even under if there's a gap) to some other power sockets. Maybe even get a white internet cable so you cant see it.

Why not just chuck something like this in front of it, cut a big hole in the back and then choose doors? www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/billy-bookcase-white-30263844/

Would a console table work ? Plugs and booster are not noticeable under the shelf.

Image added

Move the phone socket to somewhere more suitable?

I think that the long term solution is to move the sockets.
Meanwhile, can you have a table / shelf / sideboard to the right (to take the phone, router etc) and hide the mess behind a large plant?
You can even kid people that the main function of the plant is to give a visual link to the garden beyond the french windows.

Thanks all.

There are no other electric sockets on that wall EASUYA and I think it will scar the plaster work to move them. I also think it would be an issue to move the Telephone socket because of the location where it needs to come into the house (overhead cables feeding a number of properties) I have been told it is quite expensive just to get BT to look at it, but will investigate that further tomorrow.

I agree Pullingmysocksup that it should be possible to find a cabinet with only 2.5cm side thickness but I am finding it difficult to find one I like. I have found a unit I love on Etsy but the overhang at the top and the base seem to rule out that option.

I like the console table option NoddyMcPintsAlot and hadn’t really considered that. Off to search Etsy

Thank you for all the suggestions. They are really helpful.

I think the legs will be more likely to be too wide on a console table.

Sockets are placed higher in new builds so that they're accessible to people in wheelchairs or other physical impairments who cannot crouch.
You can get them dropped if they're a nuisance

I would just put big plant in a big pot in front of them if you can't find or don't want furniture. We lived for a while in a house in a flood risk area and all the sockets were halfway up the wall. If they couldn't be covered by furniture we just used a plant.
Another one we used one extension plug thing so only one (white) cable came out of the socket and the ugly black ones were hidden behind the sofa. Still not great, but better.

Have a look at console tables on Wayfair too.

Searching my house to find somewhere I could move the incoming socket too, I have found this extra socket in the hall.

Does anyone know what the socket to the LH side of the Plug socket is?

I have tried to plug the phone into it but that doesn’t work

Hmm. Can you unplug the bulky plug on the left. Get a sideboard which could then have legs wider than 2.5cm. Plug in a multi plug in the right hand socket for the two things that need to be plugged in. Put stuff on top of sideboard?

That is one option I am considering TeaAndASitDown but is still masses of bulk behind the sideboard, so it will need a large overhang on the top, need to sit a long way out from the wall or need a hole cut in the back. I have written to the producer to see if they would cut that hole for me.

I really like the plant idea Senua and Knitwit99 if I cant find another solution. I could have a narrower Sideboard and just put the plant next to it

Am not sure about the bookcase PullingMySocksUp because I have a very long wall to fill and really coukd do with maximum storage.

Am currently searching Ikea though for other ideas. It is years since I have been there and I keep coming across useful bits that might necessitate a drive down the motorway.

How deep can you go?

Only about 50cm TheGreatWave and that has to include any overhang / space at the back

How about removing the skirting to the left of the sockets, to create a wider gap? The piece nearest to your french doors could be cut so it ends flat at the new unit, it would take a handyman 5 mins. That way the unit will butt straight up to the side

Thank you all for your ideas.

I think I have resolved the issue. I have moved a chair to that corner, bought extension leads for the phone socket and ordered a cable tidy box from Amazon. I will tuck the cable tidy box behind the chair and if necessary add a plant to hide the switches.

The new sideboard will go on a different wall.

So thanks to MN brain power I have resolved an issue that has been irritating me for a year, for £30. I really appreciate your help !!

Pleased you have found a solution.

You've found a solution cheaper but a neat and compact option would be similar to a radiator cover, basically a narrow shelf made of MDF with a decorative cover across the front. Any carpenter would be able to knock one up but it would probably be half a day plus which would be more than 30 quid!